The Decline of Red Cars: Could They Disappear from UK Roads by 2037?

Are Red Cars Disappearing from UK Roads?

In a surprising turn of events, red cars, once the most popular choice among British drivers, are now facing the possibility of disappearing entirely from UK roads by 2037. According to recent data from AA Cars, the popularity of red cars has been steadily declining over the years, with sales dropping from 13% in 2014 to just 7.5% today.

So, what’s causing this shift in car color preferences? It seems that drivers are now opting for more neutral tones, with grey emerging as the new favorite. The number of buyers choosing new grey cars has nearly doubled between 2014 and 2023, rising from 14% to 27%. This surge in grey car sales has come at the expense of white and silver cars, which have seen a decline in popularity.

Black has now taken the spot as the second most popular new car color in the UK, with almost two in three new cars sold last year being either grey, black, or white. Red, on the other hand, has fallen below blue in the top 10 most popular car colors.

James Hosking, director of AA Cars, notes that the rise of monochrome and grey cars could make UK roads less colorful in the future. The nostalgia for the days when red cars dominated the streets may not be enough to save them from extinction.

Even in the used car market, red cars are facing a decline in popularity, with only 6% of searches on the AA Cars site being for red vehicles. It seems that the trend towards more neutral colors is not just limited to new cars.

But what about the issue of sun bleaching, a common concern for owners of red cars in the past? According to David Ross from Honest John, modern paint finishes are more resistant to UV rays, making the fading of red cars less of a worry. While there is no specific evidence to suggest that metallic finishes are more resistant to sun damage, the majority of red paint finishes are likely to be metallic nowadays.

So, will red cars become a thing of the past in the UK? Only time will tell, but it seems that the future of car colors is leaning towards more subdued tones. If you’re a fan of red cars, you might want to hold onto your beloved vehicle for as long as you can, as they could soon become a rare sight on British roads.